Onizuka is a reformed biker gang leader who has his sights set on an honorable new ambition: to become
the world's greatest teacher... for the purpose of meeting sexy high school girls. Okay, so he's
mostly reformed.
However, strict administrators and a class of ruthless delinquents stand between Onizuka and his goal
and they will use any means, however illegal or low, to drive the new teacher away. Perfect, because
Onizuka's methods won't be found in any teaching manual; he cares about the difference between legal
and illegal activities about as much as he cares for the age difference between himself and a high
school girl.
So get ready for math that doesn't add up, language you'd be slapped for using, and biology that would
make a grown man blush... unless of course, you're the Great Teacher Onizuka.
Note: Episode 1 has an airtime of 48 minutes.
Great Teacher Onizuka is a very popular title. Let us see why. The series focuses on the life of Onizuka Eikichi, who is an ex-bike gang leader. The man has only one goal now-- to become the greatest teacher in Japan. While doing his teaching internship as part of his studies to become a qualified teacher, he ends up not in an all-girls class as he has been dreaming for awhile, but in a delinquent class. There Onizuka learns the importance of the power and respect gained from one's students. Thanks to pure luck, or Onizuka’s shining charisma, after internship he gets a job at one of the most prestigious private schools in Japan to handle their 'problem class' that made the past few teachers quit. The problem is, however, is that the problem children have some really smart boys and gals that are able to drive even a grownup crazy. Onizuka can, indeed, solve any issue using force. He, however, wants to find the right approach to every pupil, even to the teachers that hate him. Will the most incompetent teach become the greatest teacher there is in Japan? The story-line is not the best part about GTO, of course. Yet, it has its appeal. It is rather slow, yet you never feel bored. The way it is built gives you one detailed explanation about everything you need to know: peoples’ backstories, their motives, desires, likes and dislikes. And the best thing about it that you will surely appreciate is the fact that it is never boring. The moment you feel it is getting too boring, the story-line will prove you how wrong you are in the same moment you felt boredom. Animation wise, this is the weakest part about GTO. Cannot expect too much from something that aired almost 20 years ago. However, I would not say that it is too much of a challenge: the animation still captures emotions pretty well, especially Onizuka’s priceless facial expressions. Sound wise, it is pretty good. Do not want to sound biased, but the Japanese voice actors did a much better job than the English voice actors. English dub is not always terrible, but GTO is to be seen in Japanese: the emotions the Japanese voice actors put in their characters is something to see with your own eyes. OST is also pretty enjoyable and helps you appreciate the series even more. Characters is, indeed, the best thing about this series. Maybe because of the work of the voice actors, maybe because of the ingenious script Tooru Fujisawa, the reason does not matter, the only thing that matters is the result, which is beyond great. While there is really only one protagonist, the series provides all characters with enough development. Even a nurse that has little to do with the story-line gets own screen time and a back-story. Anyways, with that being said, the main focus of the series is the self-proclaimed best teacher in Japan Onizuka Eikichi, who is 22. He graduated from an average university only thanks to cheating and his friends. And all he does now is peering up girls' skirts in a local mall. Well, what do you expect from a 22 years-old virgin? That is the main reason for his desire to become a teacher. This might tarnish your attitude towards Onizuka, but, in reality, it should not. Onizuka is young and, of course, the opposite sex attracts him. He is different. And you will see why by yourself. He has the idea that with the right approach you can win trust of every pupil. All in all, Great Teacher Onizuka somewhat reminds me of Gintama. Do not hate me for this comparison, please. They are similar in a way that they are both comedies that have some amazing drama that makes you worry about the characters, yet, it never feels to be forced and unneeded. Great Teacher Onizuka will surely make you laugh crying tears of joy and it will also make you hold Onizuka’s actions in high regard. He is the real man, he is the real teacher any person would love to see as a homeroom teacher. Many more things can be said about him, but this will only make your watch less interesting. With that being said, the anime series is definitely something no one would want to miss. It has all the characteristics of a great show: the scenes are exciting, the script is cleverly written, and the humor will have you chuckling nonstop. Some of the most memorable moments are simply the expressions on Onizuka's face as he goes through various emotions. It is, of course, the last thing you want to see with your kid brother, or sister, but mid and late-teens and older will surely get the message of Great Teacher Onizuka. And I must say that this message is the last thing a person watching anime can miss. Not liking the old animation is also the last excuse one can think of to avoid watching this pure gem. Do watch it! Onizuka is the greatest teacher there is. 10/10.
____Introduction____ As a newly inducted member of the anime fandom, it can be hard to adjust to the unique nature of the medium. As hard as it may be for some of us to remember, there was a time when subtitles, OPs and EDs, and even animation itself may have been strange new territory. If you're here reading this, it means you took the dive and are probably enjoying yourself because of it. But are you brave enough to try something brand new in a more serious, life-altering capacity than entertainment? Could you step outside your comfort zone and embrace a totally new career, family, or even way of life? "GTO" is a show that I discovered and decided to watch in its entirety after seeing a clip from the first episode on YouTube. I have no idea why it was recommended to me, but I was so transfixed by what I had seen that I knew I had to know where the story went from there. What followed was a different show, in art, in genre, in age, than anything I had seen before. But I'm glad I took the dive. ____Synopsis____ The first we see of Eikichi Onizuka, bachelor, 22 years old, is him staring at the panties of a high school girl at the mall. The next thing we see him do is apply for a teaching position. After retiring as a legendary biker gang leader, he claims he is seeking to meet hot young girls as a high school teacher. However, we learn early on that his true motivation is much more sincere. According to Onizuka, the education system of Japan is a failure. Teachers have forgotten that the true goal of their sacred profession is to guide students, in education and in life. Even the most prestigious schools are riddled with perversion, bullying, and all sorts of malpractice. Onizuka, although academically one of the worst performing citizens in the country, feels it is his calling to correct the system that wronged him and so many others in his generation. After acquiring his teaching license, Onizuka gains a position at the reputable Holy Forest Academy, to the disgust of almost all of the existing elitist faculty. In an effort to put him in an unwinnable situation, he is assigned to be the homeroom teacher of the infamous Class 3-4, which has driven several past teachers to depression and inflicted trauma bad enough to keep them out of the teaching industry forever. Onizuka, though, rises to the challenge and shows Class 3-4 that he is nothing like any teacher who has come before. Using methods both legal and illegal, socially acceptable and unspeakable, he begins to win over the students one by one. Some may prove more difficult than others, and the wounds of the class run deep. But if he fails now, the students may retain their hatred for teachers for the rest of their lives. ____Strengths____ There are many things "GTO" does well, but only one it does better than perhaps any other anime of its time. The soundtrack to "GTO" is unlike anything you've heard before. Wailing saxophones punctuate the night air every time Onizuka is delivering a lesson in moral justice, and the same sax winds down to a soft cry accompanied by somber strings for more serious emotional beats. The instrumentation here is executed perfectly and is inseparable from the series and its main character. The plot, like many shounen of its time, is episodic and sequential. However, no episode ever feels formulaic. The series follows a natural progression of Onizuka winning over the members of Class 3-4 one at a time, with every few episodes being a self-contained story about his relationship with a particular student. At the end of these subplots, the student is added to Onizuka's crew of mischievous henchmen, but none of them ever become irrelevant. Despite having a wide cast, each character, after their introduction, continues to appear regularly through the end of the series. The titular character is what carries "GTO" from good to great. Onizuka deftly switches between a drunkard with a perverted sense of humor and an iron-willed beacon of justice and morality. His wild array of facial expressions are animated with great detail, ending bits of situational comedy with an artistic flourish. There are many laugh-out-loud moments to be found in "GTO," often times multiple per episode. These are interwoven deftly with scenes of gut-wrenching suspense, teary-eyed confessions, and incredibly satisfying deliveries of just reward and punishment for just about every character. ____Weaknesses____ If you haven't figured it out already, I enjoyed "GTO" quite a bit. It is not without its faults, but they are admittedly few. The most glaring issue is probably the artwork. Even while airing, the animation was nothing special, and twenty years later it appears obviously dated. Aside from funny faces to end a good joke, the characters and backgrounds are often plain and sometimes reused. Additionally, although I found them to be enjoyable, there are a half-dozen filler episodes within "GTO." These episodes, usually appearing in pairs, seem to be leading somewhere with a new character or addition to the plot, but after the end of the arc it becomes clear that it has no real impact on the ongoing development of the show. These side adventures are great additions for fans who want more, but if you aren't as into the series, they can be skipped with little consequence. ____Conclusion____ "GTO" is a show, like I mentioned in the introduction, about taking the dive. It may not be as packed with action or as beautifully animated as half the anime that released this season, but it definitely has a lot more heart. Fortunately for those with a tight schedule, the first episode (which is a special double-feature) perfectly encapsulates the entire rest of the show. Give the premier a watch and you will know if the rest of it is worth your time. If I had to describe this show to an anime fan with only a few words, I would say it is an improved version of "Assassination Classroom." Both feature a delinquent class with an episodic structure where an influential teacher brings them together to realize the finer points of life. The difference, however, is in the characters. Where "Assassination Classroom" had forgettable archetypes that got shelved after their debut, "GTO" has memorable characters that return consistently to drive the new arrivals forward. Of course, the truly phenomenal part of the series is its main character and soundtrack. The scene of Onizuka on the roof of the school, cigarette in hand, gazing out towards the sea after his latest life-changing adventure while saxophones blaze through the night air is not one I will soon forget. ____Best Girl____ Tomoko Nomura img220(https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fvignette3.wikia.nocookie.net%2Fgreat-teacher-onizuka-gto%2Fimages%2F9%2F9a%2FTomoko_Nomura_Infobox.png%2Frevision%2Flatest%3Fcb%3D20150831201041&f=1&nofb=1)
~~~img410(https://wallpapercave.com/wp/wp2172694.jpg)~~~ img820(https://i.postimg.cc/cLvmPqRC/unnamed-1.png) ~~~ >“We cannot go back to the past, no matter how hard we try. No matter how wonderful it was. The past is nothing but the past.” – Eikichi Onizuka ~~~ img820(https://i.postimg.cc/cLvmPqRC/unnamed-1.png) ~~~Onizuka Eikichi a 22-year-old. Even though Japan continues to produce more new anime, there are still plenty of excellent older shows available. This is true, particularly for those who may have only recently become interested in anime. Although it's hard to imagine, GTO will turn 10 in June. However, the age of an anime has nothing to do with how good it is. I have therefore been working on this series for the past few days~~~ img820(https://i.postimg.cc/cLvmPqRC/unnamed-1.png) ~~~The first episode serves to illustrate the basic if slightly cracked out, premise. Onizuka, a former Yakuza, always wanted to be a teacher and the best there has ever been. Naturally, he ends up selecting, to put it mildly, the class that may have the most volatile students. This starts a 42-episode journey in which he gradually wins over every student in his class while also solving their problems. Finally, the student who has undoubtedly experienced the greatest amount of trauma speaks out about the incident that completely upended the class. You already know that Onizuka will prevail in the end; if you need to ask why then you still don't fully grasp the premise. What matters is the journey, how he will succeed, and where he will make mistakes along the way. When you realize that the class is actively plotting against his efforts, what initially seems simple quickly becomes complicated. A group of teenagers, they're quite intelligent. The vice-principal is very hostile toward the former gang member and also has a very negative opinion of him. Additionally, Onizuka is a wonderfully flawed character; he is not a model citizen. He is a womanizer, a drinker, a smoker, vulgar, and completely irrational in his behavior. Despite this, I promise you'll still adore him. ~~~ img820(https://i.postimg.cc/cLvmPqRC/unnamed-1.png) ~~~img410(https://c4.wallpaperflare.com/wallpaper/737/828/942/anime-great-teacher-onizuka-wallpaper-preview.jpg)~~~ img820(https://i.postimg.cc/cLvmPqRC/unnamed-1.png) ~~~The show's supporting cast of characters, which is large and susceptible to flaws, is equally significant. By the end of the series, even for those who have been present since step one, if you're anything like me, you won't be able to recall the majority of their names. But at some point in the story, each of these characters gets to carry the spotlight, and most of them even have their moment of supreme awesomeness. Under the guidance of their teacher, they have all developed significantly by the end. When you can switch all of these characters around without leaving anyone behind, that is a sign of a successful series.~~~ img820(https://i.postimg.cc/cLvmPqRC/unnamed-1.png) ~~~youtube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9Y0XkSvQSI)~~~ img820(https://i.postimg.cc/cLvmPqRC/unnamed-1.png) ~~~The absurd situations that are created and Onizuka's capacity to come up with equally absurd solutions and endure comically high levels of punishment are a large part of the appeal of the series. It continues to provide elsewhere. This show has the power to move you, and if you aren't moved by the dramatic soliloquy in episode 11 by that point, you're probably dead inside. By the time the series conclusion, if you haven't managed to learn anything, I sincerely wonder if we were watching the same show. The great teacher also specializes in life lessons. This naturally lends itself to examining how the educational system is undermining its students' readiness for the real world by prioritizing test scores above all else and failing to adequately prepare them for it. This show only loses any of its impact when it deviates from the main plot for a one-off episode, and even those don't feel too out of place and serve as supplemental character development.~~~ img820(https://i.postimg.cc/cLvmPqRC/unnamed-1.png) ~~~The animation isn't nearly as flawless as modern technology permits. The facial expressions in particular are well executed, and it's still entertaining to watch. In some sequences, there is a lot of action going on, but there isn't a significant animation break or loss of what is happening. The music doesn't offer a lot of variety; it simply sets the scene's mood before fading away, leaving the characters to speak for themselves. Onizuka is expertly portrayed by Steven Blum, and I generally enjoy the voice work of the other characters as well. There were a few minor characters I didn't particularly care for, but in this series, a minor character is essentially someone who gets three lines and then disappears for a while.~~~ img820(https://i.postimg.cc/cLvmPqRC/unnamed-1.png) ~~~img410(https://imgs.search.brave.com/BM0R3ub1BBRNgKi0bsvFWS5il__XyYyp71SAVpNNZ98/rs:fit:1200:800:1/g:ce/aHR0cDovL2ltYWdl/czYuZmFucG9wLmNv/bS9pbWFnZS9waG90/b3MvNDE1MDAwMDAv/R1RPLWd0by00MTUz/NDY5Ny0xMjgwLTgw/MC5qcGc)~~~ img820(https://i.postimg.cc/cLvmPqRC/unnamed-1.png)
img100%(https://i0.wp.com/www.nostalgeek.fr/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/GTO-IALU.png?fit=778%2C308&ssl=1) img100%(https://i.postimg.cc/Dzf7vJHz/ORANGE-Line.gif) #~~~__Introduction__~~~ I remember last year I was looking catalogs on anilist to find a good show to watch. I was looking for a _REALLY_ good one cause the last couple had been stinkers. It was then that I stumbled upon this anime. Great Teacher Onizuka. At the time, I thought it'd just be a pretty good 7/10 comedy anime, but man how little did I know that'd I'd fall in love with it and it'd become one of my favorites of all time. Great Teacher Onizuka is not only a hilarious anime, but an anime with so much soul and love put into it that separates it from it's peers in other comedy animes. It has a fun cast, it's hilarious, and has so many great moments that can't help you from falling in love with it. GTO is really good but the real question I want to answer is, what makes it so special? What makes it so great? ~~~youtube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phAoChN1nC4&list=RDphAoChN1nC4&start_radio=1) ~~~ img100%(https://i.postimg.cc/Dzf7vJHz/ORANGE-Line.gif) #~~~__Characters__~~~ Practically all of my favorite animes that I consider to be peak not only have an amazing protagonist, but an amazing cast overall. I'm fortunately glad to say that GTO is no exception to this rule as it delivers on both fantastically. The side cast are all loveable and have actual personalities and don't just bounce off of Onizuka well, but they bounce off of eachother very nicely as well. Urumi and Yoshito have a splendid dynamic with each other, Tomoko's centered episodes are just as great as normal episodes, and Murai's back and forth bickering with Onizuka is nothing short of comical. ~~~img75%(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/87/87/47/878747876f7faf12d163e2bbdbe7fe17.jpg) ~~~ The real star of the show however is Onizuka who is written nothing short of brilliantly. One thing I love about his character is along with characters in universe, we as the audience also fall into the trap of judging him harshly and writing him off because of the way he presents himself. He's a brash borderline thug who isn't afraid to say what's on his mind. Yet by a couple of episodes in, you realize that's not all there is to him. He's a complete screw up sure, but a complete screw up constantly trying to do his best and do right by his students. No matter how dire the situation is and how hopeless it all looks, Onizuka always tries to find a way and always prevails, for the sole sake of his students. Onizuka is hilarious throughout the show and that's a great aspect, but that's not what made me adore his character. It was making Tomoko realize her self worth that made me adore him. It was standing up for Noboru that made me adore him. It was making Urumi finally value her life that made me adore him. He's a phenomenal character who simply gets better every single passing episode, and truly cements himself as the greatest teacher. ~~~ img50%(https://media.tenor.com/_2g5aHyESXwAAAAM/crying-smoking.gif) ~~~ img100%(https://i.postimg.cc/Dzf7vJHz/ORANGE-Line.gif) #~~~__Music__~~~ I won't lie 99% of anime OSTs don't even remotely move me, but there's something truly unique in GTO's OST. A lot of the reason the scenes are so memorable in this show is because of the music playing in the background. They set such a fantastic and unforgettable tone that makes a scene stick with you forever. The only real critique I have with the OST is that it can get a little repetitive at times and feels like it just needs a _bit_ more variety. I still mostly look the other way however just because of how good the entire soundtrack is.The music subtlety plays a big role of transforming this anime into something spectacular and should not go underappreciated under any circumstances as without it, the big moments in this show wouldn't feeling remotely the same and it made me never forget Onizuka's triumphant victories in each episode with this song playing in the background: ~~~youtube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o5_66P3e5M&t=24s) ~~~ img100%(https://i.postimg.cc/Dzf7vJHz/ORANGE-Line.gif) #~~~__Plot/Narrative__~~~ Have you ever sat down and watched the first episode of an anime and instantly knew right off the bat, it'd be truly a wonder to behold? That was me with this show. Almost all of my favorite shows took a great chunk of episodes before I truly loved it. Hell, Neon Genesis Evangelion is my favorite anime of all time and it took 2 rewatches for me to truly be infatuated with it. GTO was different on the other hand though. This show right off the bat lets you know EXACTLY what show this will be and keeps this tone. It starts off with it's comedic hijinks that'll later become a staple to the show and ends off with an incredibly sweet moment. I'll never forget watching Onizuka come to a student's house and break down the wall between her and her parents bedroom to grant the wish of the student wanting to spend more time with her parents. This student had tried to set him up to get fired and he still felt sympathy for one of his pupils and decided to break down the literal barrier between her and her parents. img49%(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/941549399929139261/1077533943382933505/image.png) img49%(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/941549399929139261/1077534244429103144/image.png) img49%(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/941549399929139261/1077534690182967347/image.png) img49%(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/941549399929139261/1077534865341288498/image.png) This is merely the FIRST episode and is only the start of heart pulling scenes like this. The show is episodic with sometimes there being arcs with multiple episodes. Despite it being episodic, characters actually keep their development and their growth which is a real rarity in a format of this kind. The plot concept isn't really anything of note with the premise just being Onizuka is a really rude teacher and his students don't really like him. It's a plot that could easily have become stale and boring but thankfully it goes about it in such a charming way. Seeing Onizuka slowly try to understand his students, and his students slowly try to understand him was just simply a beautiful unraveling that I could not get enough of. This is especially apparent in the episodes centered around the side characters which are among the best episodes in the series. Seeing Onizuka and certain side characters finally mutually respect each other and realize they're not really that bad of a person was always nice as the show made it clear that these characters will in fact go through development and not just pretend that none of the episodes preceding it never happened. ~~~img50%(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BY2ExOTM5M2YtNjQ0Mi00YWM5LWI3Y2EtOTczZDVhZmIxNzk4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzgyMDI2OTQ@._V1_.jpg) ~~~ Another thing GTO does well are definitely it's life lessons. While this show appears as a funny comedy on it's surface which it does a great job at, underneath it is a show giving real and thought provoking messages. It teaches about standing up for yourself, finding your own self worth, valuing your own life, finding things you're good at, and so much more. I'd never in a million years imagine I'd walk away from an anime like this leaving such a huge impact on my character and wanting to grow and change as a person and be the best version of myself. One of it's overarching lessons is to never judge a book by it's cover. I initially thought it was corny because It was a trope done to death over and over, but GTO does it in such a genuine way that it made it work. Comparing Onizuka to the antagonists in most episodes is such a huge contrast. They aren't thugs or gangsters, but mostly upper middle class people who dress well, speak with a superior vocab, and carry themselves a lot higher. The show subverts your expectations of who's the bad guy and who's the good guy in the most delightful way. While Onizuka is a borderline thug who dresses pretty inappropriately, is loud, violent, and extremely obnoxious, he's also the person in the show who has the most heart and humanity. ~~~img75%(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/48/b1/7f/48b17fa8d8051843d1f9996c60086144.gif) ~~~ img100%(https://i.postimg.cc/Dzf7vJHz/ORANGE-Line.gif) #~~~__Conclusion__~~~ GTO is an anime that I truly love and no matter how hard I tried, words were just not enough to express it. It's an endearing anime classic that's able to make you laugh just as fast as making you cry. All of the characters have such obvious appreciation and thought put into them and it constantly beams like a beacon throughout the show. The lessons in this show actively made me want to be a better person and contribute good to this world. It might just be a stupid comedy to some and that's fine, but it's a piece of art to me. If you haven't given this a watch yet, I plead with you to at least give the first episode a chance as that's a good tone indicator for the series. It's not the most complex anime ever, it's not the best animated anime ever, it's simply an anime that wants to try and actively better it's audience and I think that's fine enough for me. img100%(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FOFeKRgWYAEGNkQ.jpg:large)
~~~At some point in my life, I wanted to be a teacher, but that dream never really materialized. Nevertheless, I can confidently say I got to be one through Onizuka after watching GTO. Despite me never becoming a teacher He mirrored my interactions with kids when I worked as a camp counselor during high school. Looking back, I realize I was simply being myself, and the children seemed to appreciate that. Each morning, I brought cards and snacks, would be over-competitive in sports and activities, gave every kid in my group a nickname, and drew both positive and negative feedback from fellow counselors, especially my manager. One day an incident occurred that got me in big trouble, but after the child's apology and confession, I avoided being fired. To emphasize my point, Onizuka is a lot of things, he’s self-centered, annoying, immature, impulsive, lazy, perverted, you name it. —But most of all, Onizuka is true to himself and the people around him. From helping Yoshikawa become a man, Fuyutsuki with her past, and helping and being a father figure in Murai's life, you can't help but respect Onizuka. Despite being In a school where students and teachers lack trust and understanding. Onizuka is the bridge between the two groups. Students respect and trust him because he constantly goes above and beyond for his students in the most unique of ways, sometimes risking his job. I also gotta give credit to Principal Sakurai for having my boys back. She constantly supports and watches Onizuka. Throughout the show, she goes above and beyond in securing his employment through the crazy situations he ends up in. I also can't forget Vice Principle Uchiyamada for being an absolute Chad in carrying the show in terms of comedy, there's never a dull moment with him on screen. All things considered, this show is very similar to both Gintama and Assassination Classroom, in both structure and storytelling, especially with the MCs. Gintama is the latter, due to its similar comedy and more serious nature. Where GTO truly shines is its real and grounded approach in its messaging, not only in reality but having very relatable issues such as peer pressure, personal identity, bullying, social issues, abuse, and so on. Also, unlike Assassination Classroom the show doesn’t focus on one or two characters thought the series but the whole class. Characters aren't left out after their respective arcs but develop and have several appearances episode by episode. Long story short, I really loved this show, especially the early and later episodes. I loved the characters, messaging, music, and hilarious comedy. The filler did throw me off causing me to go on a 6-month break from the anime but the show instantly picked itself up after I got passed it. Unfortunately, the ending was both incomplete and rushed. And to add insult to injury the anime from what I've heard censored and changed a lot of things in the manga due to broadcasting concerns, and because of said issues I give GTO an 8.3~~~ ~~~I will be giving the manga a visit... This was hard but Anko Uehara was best girl :P (Fun fact Onizuka and I are the same age)~~~
This review is spoiler free. img220(https://images.kinorium.com/movie/shot/248928/h280_480616.jpg) Great Teacher Onizuka is an anime about a teacher, but the thing is he doesn't teach normal school subjects but prepare his students for the next chapter in their life. It's about a guy that hated school when he was younger, he thought everything he learnt was boring but later in life he realized that he actually wants to spend the rest of his life in school and goof around with his friend, but this time he's in the position of a teacher. He's not someone who looks down on his students and acts like he is better than them or acts like he is their superior, he just acts like a friend and someone they can mess around with. img220(https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/66/40/b4/6640b447c7a54ffbec097c886a182c61.jpg) I got into GTO when I was in middle school and since I hated school at that time I related to GTO a lot, it was like a safe space for me to watch an anime about a guy who was trying to make a place I hate fun. In my 13 year old mind I was watching a show about school but now that I think back maybe it had some deeper meaning or a life lesson that was made for the viewers. I think that lesson may vary from person to person but for me it was a lesson on how to be free, I was watching an average person do all sorts of crazy stuff just to help his students that don't deserve it and maybe teach them a lesson or two about life. img220(https://64.media.tumblr.com/3c3b044797dec82f290be752382a2c26/tumblr_o94vprTiwG1tx45yjo1_540.jpg) Comedy is pretty much subjective and differs from person to person but to me this was one of the funniest things I've seen at that time. There is not much to say about comedy, It's just a bunch of guys doing dumb and goofy stuff they find funny and it gets them in trouble that leads to more funny and unexpected stuff happening. img220(https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/b2/a2/54/b2a2543fb835f3c27b2eb75775d54823.jpg) This anime reminds me of Gintama, another one of my favorites, on the surface level they're both comedies but if you get interested and decide to watch them you'll find out that both of those shows have amazing and exciting story with a bunch of great characters. Onizuka and Gintoki are especially alike, they're the ones that help the younger generation find their way in the world and help them move on from some tragic events that happened in the past. img220(https://static.cinemagia.ro/img/resize/db/movie/02/29/14/gto-great-teacher-onizuka-627511l-576x0-w-26babf0f.jpg) If you like Gintama, Grand blue, Trigun, Rurouni Kenshin, Kyou Kara Ore Wa, Shonan Junai Gumi, or are fan of delinquent mangas/animes I strongly recommend you check out GTO.
~~~img220(https://i.imgur.com/iLV4kyN.png) There is no piece of media that is equal parts heartwarming, badass, goofy, and sad as GTO. Perhaps Gintama, but I digress. I picked up this series on the account that I thought Onizuka looked cool on the cover. I’m easily sold when it comes to anime and manga that deal with delinquents who have bleached hair. I had no idea that after I’d finished my watching experience, that I’d change my life for the better. For an anime to send the viewers on their way with something they might carry with them for the rest of their lives is quite the impact to leave. And I’m proud to admit that Onizuka had left that impact on me. What was it about this show that makes it so profound? To get to the bottom of that, I’ll have to tell you what it’s about. Onizuka is a former highschool delinquent and mobster who decides that he will become the greatest teacher! Although he isn’t particularly book smart, he is more than knowledgeable about the streets and the problems that plague the outside world. It is with this knowledge that he takes on various cohorts of classes and schools plagued with some of the biggest pricks known to man, and the personal dilemmas these students have. Onizuka takes on the responsibility of inspiring his students and teaches them that their grades, their net worth, or their future jobs/ranks are not the sum of their self-worth and that their lives are worth cherishing. If that’s not a plot that sets itself up to deal with some very emotionally gripping topics, then I don’t know what is. And the man who dishes out these life lessons is Onizuka himself. A man who’s equal parts goofy, charismatic, clumsy, horny, and juvenile as he is tortured, sensible, humble, clever, and mature. So GTO is a series that deals with incredibly depressing and real world subject matter such as physical abuse, suicide, neglect, bullying, discrimination, framing, blackmail, and stalking. Who’s main character is a man even Austin Powers wouldn’t hesitate to call a dork. And yet, the show is able to present such a beautiful dichotomy between Onizuka’s typical silly nature, and the surprisingly sensible way he handles these grotesque situations with his students. img220(https://i.imgur.com/0MDZw2P.gif) The show is not afraid to get as dark, or as silly as it desires. And I’ve yet to come across another series that balances these two extremes with ease in a way that’s on par with GTO. Now it may sound like Onizuka is a Gary Stu, but it doesn’t take long to find out that’s not the case. Just like any human being, Onizuka is flawed. He’s easily duped by others, gives into his impulses rather frequently, and is actually rather lazy when it comes to teaching school lessons instead of life lessons. I found the writing behind Onizuka’s character to be genius, and seeing him struggle to gain the trust of his students while also giving each individual student his undivided devotion when they most need it is harrowing to witness. It takes skill to believably write a character that feels as human as Onizuka, despite his absurd nature. Not only does Onizuka’s crude yet stand up personality, along with his pearls of wisdom, inspire me. But the show itself utilizes unique and interesting ways of presenting both its gags and serious themes in ways that inspire my creativity. The show is dynamic in how it shows characters to be multifaceted individuals. It’s able to achieve this through their expressions, mannerisms, demeanor, and actions instead of letting the audience hear their thoughts. The same rings true to the predicaments they find themselves in. If the show is dealing with a topic such as a teacher having an affair with a student, then it won’t be two-dimensional about it and just have a student eavesdropping on them. GTO would rather queue in the viewer with the same amount of information the students have, and from there it’s up to the audience to use context clues to decipher the likely scenario. Simply put, the show doesn’t take its audience for being idiots. It’s filled with nonstop creative goodness with how it presents the conflicts and their resolutions. But does the same ring true for its humor? Like with any comedy, it’s all subjective and what someone gets from a show’s sense of humor varies from person to person. For me, the kind of humor found in Onizuka slays me everytime I watch it. Sometimes it’s not even the punchline itself that’s hilarious, rather the way Onizuka deals with the situation he’s in, on a meta level. Whether that be putting a bratty kid in their place or, one of my favorite examples. Onizuka copes with the fact that he might’ve accidentally killed a student when trying to save her life, and imagines this cinematic detective movie where he’s found guilty of “death by butt push” since the girl was presumably dead after Onizuka accidentally bumped her off a building with his behind. Like I said, humor is subjective, and I probably made the joke sound as unfunny as possible in trying to explain it, but I found the show’s sense of humor to be just as nuanced, and well-thought out as the serious parts of the show. Don’t let my over analysis fool you though, as it’s also filled to the brim with both random and low brow sex jokes. But it’s not afraid to give the audience jokes that may require more thought. The show’s humor isn’t the only part of it that’s exceptional. The same rings true for the show’s visuals. If you liked that late 90s anime aesthetic, a la Golden Boy and are looking for a show in the same vein both in tone and in visual style. Then look no further than GTO. This show has that detailed anime cell aesthetic that I adore. The show has scenes taking place during the day that seem like it's 100 degrees outside. With the night being filled with dark blue and black skies, complimenting the character's detailed aesthetic. The show mostly uses a muted color palette with an emphasis on beige, yellow, and white. The show is also relatively high contrast and looks very bright. I also thought the show had a mild grain overlay, adding to its vintage feel. Perhaps that was intentional since It looks older than it is (released in 2000) but I mean that as a good thing. I found that the visuals nicely compliment the show’s animation. The characters, especially Onizuka himself, looked highly detailed and yet was still able to be extremely cartoonishly-animated and versatile in both his normal movements and over-the-top reactions. The final aspect of this show I wanted to touch on, while maybe not as varied as the animation, hits just as hard if not harder than it. Because when it hits, it hits so well. That aspect in question is the show’s soundtrack. I mean this when I say it, but the show’s first OP “Driver’s High” is my favorite OP song of all time. The song always revs me up, gearing for the day that lies ahead, with its amazing guitar melodies, epic vocals, and delicious flashy hooks that act as caffeine for my eardrums. The second OP doesn’t trail far from the first, but it was Driver’s High that landed on my MP3 player first. The first ED is great as well. It’s mellow but groovy with a nice blend of a hip hop beat, xylophone patterns, string instruments and harmonized melodic female vocals accompanying the cacophony of beautiful melodies. If I had to sum up the feel of the rest of music in one sentence, I’d say that the music is representative of city life. It’s often upbeat, happy, soulful, and jazzy with plenty of saxophone. Many tracks come off as sounding very triumphant as well. Even the music that plays during a high brow gag is endearing and party-like. There is no piece of media that is equal parts heartwarming, badass, goofy, and sad as GTO. I had no idea that after I’d finished my watching experience, that I’d change my life for the better. And I’m proud to admit that Onizuka had that much of an impact on me. What was it about this show that makes it so profound? Aside from just being a well crafted anime, it manages to be equally endearing, touching, and powerful with how respectfully it treats real world issues with healthy solutions. The life lessons that Onizuka teaches his class and in turn the viewer are legitimately inspiring and helpful. It’s able to pull this off without coming off as ham-fisted, preachy, or cliche. And how it manages to not feel jarring when it transitions between being serious and being goofy is a testament to this show’s impeccable writing and directing. I hope you study up and pay attention when watching or reading GTO, because it will be covering material that will be on the quiz of life. img220(https://i.imgur.com/6kCpllY.gif)~~~